Evans Scholars strive to break stereotypes, create brotherhood

Evans Scholars are not “kitchen boys,” “nerdy kids” or just “caddy kids.”

But those are some of the stereotypes members hear, if people even know what Evans Scholars are at all.

In reality, Evans Scholars are winners of full-tuition scholarships from the Western Golf Association and are selected for their academic achievements, caddie record, financial need and character.

To receive the scholarship, students must be nominated by the country club for which they caddy and then complete a series of applications and interviews.

The final interview for the scholarship takes place in front of a large committee of members of the Western Golf Association.

Executive Vice President and sophomore Rob Henehan said he did his final interview in front of about 60 people.

The IU chapter of Evans Scholars is one of 19 chapters across the country and one of 14 chapters with an on-campus house.

Members must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in good standing in the house, in addition to good ratings from fellow house members in evaluations. If a member fails to meet one of these criteria in a semester, they are placed on probation.

The scholarship is renewed on a semester-to-semester basis.

“I’m unable to put the experience into words,” chapter president and junior Danny Williams said. “We all come from hugely varied financial backgrounds, and we’re in the house to network and learn to live with each other. By having to live with each other, we form greater bonds.”

The house, located at 1075 N. Jordan Ave., stands among the fraternity and sorority houses.

The similarities to the greek experience don’t end with location.

Evans Scholars participate in events like the Little 500, IU Sing and Big Man on Campus. They also sponsor two major philanthropy events each semester with Stone Belt, including a caddying day in the fall and a barbecue with members of the organization, which took place Sunday.

Most members of the organization work in the kitchens at sororities as well, Williams said, and because of that, relations are generally good with the greek community.

“Since we do have a house on Jordan, it’s hard not to be ‘greek-ish,’” Williams said. “Some greeks get annoyed, though, and think we’re trying to be a fraternity, which is just stupid. It’s hard not to create that brotherhood.”

But since Evans Scholars are not an officially recognized greek organization and are not IFC-sponsored, they cannot pair with sororities for major campus events.

“We feel like we’ve been a little isolated from campus,” Henehan said.

But Williams said Evans Scholars makes up for this distance by creating a closer community.

“It’s a great thing that we have to live together for all four years,” Williams said. “I have friends that are greek, and they don’t have as tight of a brotherhood as us. Any 40 of these people would be willing to do more for me than in the greek community. It’s a stronger bond.”

And senior Jason Quillin said it doesn’t get old seeing the same faces in the same house year after year.

“We have a new batch of members every year,” Quillin said, “and I feel like I have 12 brothers and sisters in my class.”